Sealed Police Certificate from Japan?

[detam.10]

Hi Everyone,

Recently we got an email/request from CIC for the Schedule A form and Police Certificate.

When my common-law partner (in Japan) went to the police office to get her police certificate for her PR application, she was told that we are to leave the envelope sealed as is (without opening).
I would prefer to open and scan these documents for upload.

I've sent an email to CIC through their webform asking for guidance, but am not expecting any quick replies - or any at all.

My gut tells me that we can open the police certificate envelope and scan it for upload

I did some searching around and I found the following links suggesting that people have opened the envelopes?

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/silly-mistake-in-police-certificate-t395106.0.html

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/japan-police-certificate-translated-t463874.0.html

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/asking-for-police-certificate-twice-t463864.0.html

Not entirely sure what to do. I prefer scanning the documents and uploading since it's a more secure method than mail.
Then again, perhaps it's not a good idea to open the envelope without CIC's consent?

Does anyone have any experience with the Japanese Police Certificate that could chime in on whether I should or should not open the envelope?


Thanks!

 

[Aquakitty]

You've got the request; it is fine to open it now and scan it. They don't want you mailing it.

 

[detam.10]

Thank you for your input Aquakitty

 

[rcspousalsponsorship]

Yes, open it, scan and upload it

 

[Halcan]

Please don't open the Japanese PCC, it becomes invalid. That's what the immigration officer at the Japan Embassy told me. I sent it by mail and I ordered for GCMS to confirm if the CIC received the PCC. As per the GCMS, it was uploaded in my file. Just FYI.

 

[detam.10]

Oh hmmmmmm

I did send a CSE to CIC last week to clarify, but as of now I have not received a reply...

 

[Halcan]

I did the same. They replied after couple of weeks mentioning the address to which the PCC should be sent.

 

[detam.10]

Oh ok.
Thanks for your input Halcan

 

[detam.10]

Sorry for the double post.

If anyone else has any experience on this and would like to provide further feedback, it would be very helpful and appreciated.
(I definitely feel like submitting online is more secure than sending through mail and possibly getting lost, especially since the PC is coming a long distance from abroad)

Thank you.

 

[Tdot_Boy]

Hi Everyone,

Recently we got an email/request from CIC for the Schedule A form and Police Certificate.

When my common-law partner (in Japan) went to the police office to get her police certificate for her PR application, she was told that we are to leave the envelope sealed as is (without opening).
I would prefer to open and scan these documents for upload.

I've sent an email to CIC through their webform asking for guidance, but am not expecting any quick replies - or any at all.

My gut tells me that we can open the police certificate envelope and scan it for upload

I did some searching around and I found the following links suggesting that people have opened the envelopes?

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/silly-mistake-in-police-certificate-t395106.0.html

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/japan-police-certificate-translated-t463874.0.html

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/asking-for-police-certificate-twice-t463864.0.html

Not entirely sure what to do. I prefer scanning the documents and uploading since it's a more secure method than mail.
Then again, perhaps it's not a good idea to open the envelope without CIC's consent?

Does anyone have any experience with the Japanese Police Certificate that could chime in on whether I should or should not open the envelope?


Thanks!

I wouldn't open it if I were you, they might have left a note that it is invalid if opened by the unauthorized personnel.
I could be wrong, call the Japanese embassy in Ottawa ((613) 241-8541)and find out.

Cheers

 

[detam.10]

Thanks for the reply everyone.

I'm just going to send it in.

I have taken a picture of the documents/envelopes/tracking number in case anything happens.

 

[mattymcmatt]

We were in the same situation with my wife receiving her certificate from Japan last month. We debated for 20 minutes as to whether to open it or not but decided to open it and email a scanned copy. CIC specifically requested that we email it to them which is obviously impossible without opening. I will be furious with them if they come back and say that we should have sent it because we waited for over 2 months to receive it from Japan plus had to make a visit to the nearest Consulate in Canada to request it in person.

We submitted the police certificate over a month ago and still have not received word back from them.

 

[Ski_is_fun]

We were in the same situation with my wife receiving her certificate from Japan last month. We debated for 20 minutes as to whether to open it or not but decided to open it and email a scanned copy. CIC specifically requested that we email it to them which is obviously impossible without opening. I will be furious with them if they come back and say that we should have sent it because we waited for over 2 months to receive it from Japan plus had to make a visit to the nearest Consulate in Canada to request it in person.

We submitted the police certificate over a month ago and still have not received word back from them.

Did you get any news? We have just received it and wondering the same thing...

 

[byn2013]

Scan and upload it. This is what i read from the Japanese forum(sorry it's in Japanese only.)

http://bbs.jpcanada.com/detail.php?bbs=5&msgid=10192&resid=101&order=0&cat=&icon=

 

[Jiro]

We asked the Japanese Consulate General in Toronto what to do, and an agent saidit is ok to open the folder and scan for the CIC. There is no mention of any valid / invalid condition of the letter once it is opened. There is a fairly official looking seal on the certificate, and it is stamped on the edge with what I believe would be a duplicate copy held by the Japanese National Police.

What we ended up doing was scanning/uploading online and getting a certified copy made of the PCC and sending that copy into IRCC by mail. That way we still have the original incase something happens. Having a lawyer certify the copy and the courier fees ended costing another $50. But well worth it for piece of mind.